Hubert f



Patented June 10, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I H. F. KRANTZ.

SAFETY SHUTTER PANEL.

APPLxcAIoN FILED ma. 22. wle.

UNITED STATES,`

PATENT OFFICE. i

HUBERT F. KRANTZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ICRANTZ MANUFACTUR-ING- COMPANY, INC., 0F BROOKLYN; NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SAFETY-SHUTTER PANEL.

Application led March 22, 1916.

To all whom it may concern l it known that I, HUBERT F. KnAN'rz, acltizen of the United States, and residing at Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and Statey of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedSafety-Shutter Panel', of Which the following specification is a fulldisclosure.

This invention relates to switch mechanisms of the inclosed type and itproposesan arrangement whereby the make and break elements may bereadily inspected or replaced without exposing any current carryingelements to danger of coming in Contact with the hands.

One object of this invention is to formulate a simple and compact panelbox in which a multiplicity of branch-line circuits may derive currentfrom main bus-bars and in which the various switch elements may beshifted to be ilnmcdiately accessible and at the same time making itimpossible for the user to put his hand on alive conductor eitherthrough carelessness or even deliberate intention.

Another object is to so arrange the various branch-line switches withrelation to the main bus-bar that not only will the utmost economy behad in material, but also the highest. degree of safety will be insuredin manipulating the same.

Another object is to provide a panel board in which the main bus-barsare normally inclosed against Contact and in which the branch-lineterminals are so located as to be inaccessible to the ordinary user,even if the switch element be removed.

Another object is toprovide a panel-board in whichthc switehelementswill be mounted on a cover displaceable as'by beinghinged' so as readilyto be accessible for purposes of inspection and repair and at the sametime to prevent? the hand cominginto Contact with a live-terminal.

A still further object is to provide a housing for all those parts thatpermanently carry a current and to provide the same with anautomatically closing port through which normally a contact maybeestablished with switches and other branch-line elements; andr yet whichwill` automatically shut whenever the latterelements are inspected andliable to be touched Other objects will be in part obvious from theannexed drawings and in part indicated Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1o, 1919.

Serial No. 85,852.

in connection therewith by the followingr analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinati-on of partsand in the unique relations of the membersy and inthe relative proportionin and disposition thereof; all as more competely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend theunderlying features thereof that they may embody the same by thenumerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by thisinvention, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as a`part of this disclosure. and in such drawings, like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:

Figure 1 is a transverse section showing in elevation one switchmechanism closed and the other open and illustrating the manner in whichthe live conductors are protected or sheltered from the hands wheneverthe parts are open for the purpose of inspection or replacement. Fig. isa plan showing certain details. Fig. 3 is a view of a shutter detached.

Continuing now by way of a more detailed description of thisembodin'ient` A indicates a housing formed of the base-board l, the sidewalls 2 and 3, and the end walls 4 and 5. This housing may be in thenature of a unitary box and it provides several compartments, forexample, the compartment B for the main-linebus-bars, the compartment Cfor a main-line terminal which remains live; and the compartment D forthe branch-line terminal and switclrmechanism and also for thefuse-holder, if desired. The capacity may be increased economically byarranging compartments C1 and I)1 in duplicate relation with thecompartment B. Extending longitudinally through the compartment B arethe main-line bus-bars X, Y and Z from each of which various crossbarsrr, y and a extend. These cross-bars preferably rise on the bus-bar sideof a portion E and extend over the top thereof to provide a Contactportion w1. Overlying the main bus-hars is a cover plate F which isnormally xed in place so that it can easily be removed and so thataccess to the dangerous bus-bars is at all times precluded. and likewisea lip or ledge G is arranged in elevated relation with the base l so asto cover the contact portion .1", and extending sulliriently beyond theextremity thereof to pre\ ent the fingers from easily getting intocontact therewith. An overhanging portion g also adds to the diflicultyol' reaching the contact portion wl.

The adjoining compartment l) is nornially closed by a cover-plate IIwhich is displaceable readily as by being hinged at h, and thiscover-plate may in turn be locked in its closed position by means of alatch element I, which may conveniently be shiftably mounted directly onthe cover-plate as by means of a pivot, and which may be turned by ahandle J, also useful for swinging open the cover H. The latch I isshown provided with an extension t' which will, by impact against ashoulder, thus prevent the cover from being fully closed if the switchshould be in its closed circuit position, as will be shortly explained.

A device for holding the door in its open position so that both handsmay be used in repairing the switch` or replacing a fuse, is preferablyalso provided, and this may consist of a lip 7 haring a recess 8 in itsedge which is adapted to interlock with the tongue il of a latch 1Uprovided on the side plate of the compartment D and actuated by a knobl1 operable either from the inside of the compartment I) or externallythereof, as may be desired. Upon merely swinging open the door H thetongue 9 will interlock with the notch 8 and it will be teniporarilyretained in its open position, but a pressure on the knob 11 willdisconnect the latch and permit the door to be closed.

Located in compartments D, D1, etc., are suitable fuse-holders Mconsisting of clips 12 and 13 suitably formed to Contact with the fuseterminals. Clip 13 provides a terminal 11 adapted to receive thebranch-line wire, and clip 1:2 provides a contact terminal 15 which iscomplementary to the terminal irl from the main circuit. The terminal 15is preferably arranged in the space D near the base 1 so that dia onallyabove it in oiliset relation lies the lgive terminal m1 which is coveredand concealed by the cap plate (l and the lip g. A number of similarcompartments are arranged in series on each side of the main compartmentB and by opening the doors they become accessible to permit inspectionof the fuse-holders and the various contacts. In order that the switchmechanism itself may also be inspected and further to facilitate thisoperation` the switch device is preferably mounted as a unit on thecover H and has its operating handle 40 extending through said cover soas to be operable from the outside.

A switch unit constructed in accordance with the description of myco-pendingr case No. 49.956 will be quite suitable and it, theref orc,need not be further described here, ex

cept to point out that the switch blade it is of laminated constructionharing bevi-.lcd ends and swinging about the axis 25 so that it may makecontact between the terminals 15 and all.

A handle I is rotatably mounted adjacent the free or upperly swingino1end of the door and in this embodiment it is preferably arranged so asto be bodily movable in the door itself, thereby enabling it Alo be usednot only for unlocking the door but also for bodily displacing the doorduring its nonshifting space, although it may, of course, be arranged soas to perform the former functions alone by providing the door with aseparate handle to be used 'for shifting it after being unlocked byworking the other handle. Her-e, the handle I turns about a pivotedshaft a to which is aliixed a rotatable plate l) on the inner side ofthe door. lx tending from this plate l) is a locking latch c which isadapted to catch underneath the lip (l, secured to a stationary part ofthe box so as to lock the door and prei'enl it from being opened whenthe handle is in the appropriate position shown by Fig. 1. Theconstruction is also such that the door cannot be closed when the handleis in said position and this is accomplished by means of a secondprojection c which is arranged so that it will impact the upper surfaceof the lip d, secured to a stationary part of the box so as to lock thedoor and prevent it from being opened when the handle in the appropriateposition shown by Fig. 1. The construction is also such that the doorcannot be closed when the handle is in said posit-ion and this isaccomplished by means of a second projection c which is arranged so thatit will impact the upper surface of the lio Z should an attempt be madeto close the door when the handle is in the wron position.

This invention furthermore proposes a connection between said handle andthe switch mechanism, such that the door can neither be opened norclosed save when the switch is in its open circuit position; andfurthermore such `that an operation of the handle into its door-openingposition will result in throwing the switch blade into its open circuitposition. An interponent K in the nature of a switch-drawing elementintervenes between the tongue L, extending from the switch and the plateb and as the arrangement is such that when the handle is in a positionpermitting the door to be opened then the part L must of necessity be inits open circuit position and conversely when such part L is in itsclose circuit position, the interponent will compel the handle to assumethe door locking position, thereby preventing it from being opened orfrom being closed as the case may be. This effect is convenientlyattained by :escasas pivoting the interponent K to the part b by meansof the pivot f and by causing its other end to be suitably guided inproper relation with the plate L.

This invention in addition to rende-ring safe the various branch-linecontacts eX- posed when the cover is lifted, also provides the shutterwhich takes a position obstructing entry to the compartment C` wheneverthe cover is displaced. Thnsa shutter VN is pivoted at a point k solocated that the shutter N can swing into a position such that it willcoperate with the lip gand elfectively close the compartment csufficiently to prevent the hand or fingers from getting into proximitywith the live-conductor from the main line. VVhen the door is closed,however, this shutter moves down out of the Way and the switch blade 16then eX- tends from the opening and is adapted to swing up and downtherein so as to make and break connection upon actuating the handle 40.This is readily accomplished by providing the door with a wing having apin m adapted to ride in a slot fn. so that when the door is raised upthe pin will lii't the shutter into its obstructing position and thusrender the apparatus absolutely safe from all standpoints. i

Without furtherV analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gistof this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readilyadapt it for various applications without omitting certain featuresthat, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention,land therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of thefollowing claims.-`

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to securethe following combinations of elements, or equivalents thereof, byLetters Patent of the United States 1. A switch-mechanism combining aconductor; a cover hinged in close proximity with said conductor; astationary cover protecting said conductor; and a shutter connectedVwith said irst mentioned cover and adaptedto swing into position closingaccess to said conductor.

2. A switch-mechanism combining `a housing provided with aswitch-compartment and a communicating conductor receiving compartment;a conductor arranged in said conductor receiving compartment;` adisplaceable switcl1-support; a switch carried by said switch supportand locatedin the switch compartment, saidV switch having a partnormally extending into functioning relation with the conductor in theconductor receiving compartment; and a member arranged to obstructcommunication between said compartments when the switch support has beendisplaced.

3. A switch-mechanism combining a switch-device; a fuseholder; aconductor; a housing providing a compartment for said fuse holder andanother compartment for said conductor;` and means connected with theswitch device for closing access to the compartment containing saidconductor.

4. A switch-mechanism combining a baseboard; a fuse-holder mounted onsaid base board; a main-line terminal elevated above said base board inoff-set relation with said fuse-holder; a switch-blade pivoteddiagonally between said terminal and fuse holder to malte and breakconnection therebetween; a displaceable support for said switch-bladeadapted to permit inspection thereof; and a member adapted to beinterposed between said terminal and fuse holder by displacement of saidsupport.

5. A switch mechanism combining a housing; a cover pivoted thereto; aseparately mounted shutter connected with said cover to take position insaid housing; a terminal on one side of said shutter and a secondterminal on the other side thereof; and switch mechanism forelectrically connecting said terminals.

6. A switch mechanism combining a main conductor, devices adapted to beconnected with said conductor to derive current therefrom, guard meansfor guardinw said devices when said devices are carrying current, andsaid guard means being adapted to be displaced to afford access to saiddevices, a movable guard member, and means whereby to move said movableguard member into position guarding said conductor 'whenever said firstguard means is displaced.

7. A switch mechanism combining a conductor part requiring to beguarded, conductive parts adapted to be electrically connected with saidconductor, a housing obstructing access to all of said parts and havinga portion displaceable to aiford access to said conductive parts, amovable guard member within the housing for guarding said conductor, andmeans to move. said movable guard member into position guar( ing saidconductor whenever said displaceable portion of the housing isdisplaced.

8. The combination with a panel box or the like having a guard membermovable into and out of guarding position, of a movable shutter arrangedwithin the box for shielding a certain elementwithin the box when theguard member is in non-guarding position, and a part carried by theguard member for operating the shutter.

9. A switch mechanism combining a li ve conductor, a guard membermovable into and out of position guarding said conductor, and anauxiliary guard member connected with the irst guard member to be movedinto position guarding said conductor by movement of the first guardmember.

10. A panel box or the like having a door controlled opening, the doorbeing movable into open and closed positions, a contact within the boxrequiring to be guarded, said contact `being disposed adjacent saidopening, a fixed barrier interposed between said contact and the openingfor partially guarding said contact when the door is open, said barrierbeing of a. character to provide a locality concealed from view throughsaid opening in which said contact is arranged, and a shutteroperatively connected with the door to move into proximity with saidbarrier when the door is open so as to more eiiectually close access tosaid contact.

11. A circuit breaker comprising a case having a door, stationarycontacts in the case. contacts on the door electrically connected to oneanother and adapted to engage the stationary contacts when the door isclosed, and a shield in the case separate from the door operative byopening of the door to position between the stationary contacts.

12. A circuit breaker comprising a case having a movable section and astationary portion, means including a stationary contact in the case anda contact on the movable section to close an electric circuit when themovable section is in closed position, and means operative by openingmovement of the movable section to position between the stationary andmovable contacts to obstruct access to the stationary contact.

13. A circuit breaker comprising a case having its front in sections,one of said sections being stationary and the other being hinged theretoso as to form a door, contacts mounted on the door and connectedtogether, other stationary contacts in the case, one of said stationarycontacts being at one side of the plane of the door hinge, and a shieldpivoted in the case at the relatively opposite side of the plane of thedoor hinge and operative by opening the door to close of the space atsaid first side of the plane of the door hinge from the space at therelatively opposite side of the plane of the pivot of the shield.

1-1. A circuit breaker comprising a case having a door, contactsstationary within the case and spaced apart, other contacts movablewithin the case electrically connected together and adapted to engagethe stationary contacts while the door is closed, and a shield in thecase separate from the door operative by opening of the door to positionbetween the stationary contacts.

15. A circuit breaker comprising a case having a movable section and astationary portion.` means including a stationary contact in the caseand a second contact movable within the case for closing an electriccircuit while the movable section is in closed position, and meansoperative by opening movement of the movable section to osition betweenthe stationary and Inova le contacts to obstruct access to thestationary contact.

16. A switch mechanism combining a box, a live conductor wit-hin thebox, a second conductor also within the box spaced from the liveconductor, means operable to electrically connect said two conductors,the box having an opening thereinto and having a cover member for saidopening displaceable to give access to the interior of the box, partsalso within the box arranged to provide an opening within the boxcommunieating between the portion of the box containing the liveconductor and the portion containing the second conductor, a closuremember for said second opening, and means whereby to insure closure ofsaid second closure member when said first closure memyber is displacedand whereby to insure clo` sure of said rst closure member whenever saidsecond closure member is displaced.

17. A switch mechanism combining a housing providing a switchcompartment and a communicating conductor receiving compartment, aconductor arranged in said conductor receiving compartment, a secondconductor arranged in said switch compartment, a displaceable switchsupport, a switch carried by said switch support displaceable therewithadapted normally to extend into both said compartments for controllinga. circuit between said conductors, and a member arranged to obstructcommunication between said compartments when said switch support isdisplaced.

18. A switch mechanism combining a conductor, a stationary cover parttherefor, a movable cover part therefor, and a separately mounted guardmember connected with the movable cover to be moved thereby intoposition closing access to the conductor.

19. A switch mechanism combining a casing, a pair of conductor membersspaced apart within the casing, a switch device also within the casingoperable to control electrical connection between said conductormembers, said casing including a closure member displaceable to giveaccess to the interior of the casing, a shield pivotally mounted withinthe casing having its pivotal axis disposed intermediate said twoconductor members, and connections for operating the shield by theclosure member into position for closing oii the space at one side ofthe plane of the pivot of the shield containing one of said stationarycontacts from the space at the opposite side of the plane of the pivotof the shield containing the other stationary contact.

20. A panel box or the like having a doorcontrolled opening, the doorbeing movable into open and closed position, a Contact within the boxrequiring to be guarded, a fixed barrier interposed between said Contactand In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe the opening for partiallyguarding Saud conmy name, as attested by the two subscribing 10 tactwhen the door is open, and u shutter opwltnesses.

eratively connected with the door to move HUBERT F KRANTZ into proximitywith said barrier when the i i door is open so as to copemte with thebar- Vitnesses:

rier to provide the full required guard for J. A. NEWTON,

seid Contact. S. L. VVHITLOCK.

Copies ot this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Gommissiener of Patents, Washington, D. C.

